We Urged NGT To Stop Polavaram Works: Harish Rao

Hyderabad: Irrigation Minister T Haris Rao today informed the Council that a complaint has been lodged with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) urging it to stop Polavaram project works.

Replying to a question of Congress member Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, Harish Rao said the State government has requested the NGT to order an investigation as there was a threat to Bhadrachalam temple due to Polavaram backwaters. “We have requested the NGT to cause an inquiry by an independent agency into our apprehensions”, the minister said. He also said the State government also urged the NGT to stop construction works of the Polavaram project till a study was conducted on the issues raised by Telangana government, he said.

Giving clarity on the irrigation projects, Harish said the State Government spent Rs 22,000 crore in two-and-a-half years while the previous Congress regime had spent Rs 39,000 crore in 10 years. The TRS wrested power after achieving statehood for the sake of river waters, jobs and resources but the hostile Congress was obstructing the developmental works, he fumed.